Neck-yoke center.



IL C. WISE. NECK YOKE CENTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1,1910.

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ITNITED STAE PHAIENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH COOPER WISE, 0F HILLSBRO, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN C.F. FRYE, OF STOCKPORT, IOWA.

NECK-Yorin CENTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

Application filed Tune 1, 1909. Serial No.-499,273.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH C. Wise, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hillsboro, in the county of I-Ienry and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Neck-Yoke Centers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in neck yoke centers, and theleading object of my invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which can be adjusted to [it any size of neck yoke and whichwill make a secure, smooth and neat connection therewith.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a neck yoke centerwhich cannot possibly become accidentally detached from the pole of thecarriage or vehicle but which can be instantly removed when desiredwithout unhitching the team.

With these and other hereinafter disclosed objects in view, my inventionconsists in the novel features cf construction and combination andarrangement of parts substantially as disclosed herein and asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1, represents a frontelevation of my complete device applied inposition to a neck yoke. Fig. 2, represents a cross-sectional view of mydevice applied to the pole of the vehicle. Fig. 3, represents a perspective view of one of the plates forattaching the center to the yoke, andFig. 4, rep resents an enlarged detailed view of a part of the centerand attaching plates.

In the drawings: The numeral 1, designates the yoke bar, to which isattached by means of the plates 2 and 3 my improved center. The plate 2is of substantially semicircular shape and terminates on one side in theflange 4, said flange being provided with openings through which passthe bolts 5 for connecting it to the center proper, and the curvedportion is provided with the opening G through which passes the securingscrew 7 which retains the plate on the yoke bar, and said plate has alsoa pair of slots S through which the screws 9 are passed and secured inthe yoke bar. The plate 3 is of almost circular shape having a similarflange 10 provided with openings through which the bolts 5 pass, saidbolts thus passing through the center and the attaching plates on eachside thereof and engaging said plates with their heads and the securingnuts on their ends and secure the center firmly to the yoke bar. Theplate 3 is provided near the end of the curved portion with a pair ofopenings through which the screws 9 pass, securing the plate to the yokebar.

It will thus be seen that I provide a secure and neat connection betweenthe center andyoke bar, the plate 2 fitting underi the plate 3 and said`latter plate fitting over the screw 7 and absolutely preventing it fromcoming out, while the upper plate can be adjusted to fit any size ofyoke, and its over lapping edge is beveled to make a smoother joint withthe plate 2.

My neck yoke center proper consists of the metal plate 11, slightlycurved in shape and having openings through which the bolts 5 pass, andhaving also the large circular opening near its center in which isinserted the ring or disk 12 of sole-leather or similar substance. Saidplate 11 bears on its lower portion the integral upwardly projectingcurved lug or hook 13 which engages the usual arc shaped flange orabutment 14 near the end of the pole 15 of the vehicle, as is shown inFig. 2. To provide a more neat finished appearance for my center, Icover the plate 11 on both sides with the heavy leather covering 16,having an opening through which the lug 13 projects and being secured inposition by being stitched around the edge and through the soleleatherdisk 12 in the opening in the plate. To insure a snug fit between theplates 2 and 3 and the covering 16, I insert between the coverings ofthe two sides at their upper edges the wedge shaped pieces of leather17, which extend from the plate 11 to the edge of the covering and thusinsures a snug joint between the plates and covering preventing mud,moisture, or other foreign matter which might have a deterioratingeffect upon the device from getti-ng into the same.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, when the yoke is in a forwardposition where the natural tendency is to draw or force it forward andoft' of the pole, the hook 1 3 engages the flange 14 and renders itimpossible to remove the yoke without destroying either the hook orflange. When, however, it is desired to remove it from the pole, it isnot necessary to unharness the horses, as 1s the case with almost allother 'devices of this character, but merely to throw the yoke bar tothe rear, when the bend in the plate of the cent-er, which formerly heldthe lug in contact with the tiange, now carries it downward and out ofengagement therewith and makes it possible to quickly and easily removethe yoke from the pole.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings theoperation and advantages of my device will be readily understood andappreciated.

Itwill be understood lthat by employing the central plate l1 I securestrength and durability for my device, while at the same time by theinsertion of the disk 12 which contacts and bears against the pole ofthe carriage I obviate the noise and to a great extent the wearoccasioned by the bearing of an iron center thereagainst, and theleather covering of the plate while adding to the Vattractive appearanceof the center also serves yto prevent it lfrom rattling against the poleand strengthens the center enabling me to use a smaller plate and thusprovide a lighter device.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character described, a center plate having anopening therein to permit the passage therethrough of the carriage pole,and means for securing the plate to the yoke bar, the end of the platebelow the opening being curved and having an upwardly projecting lugformed near the lower end thereof, said lug being so constructed as toengage the flange of the carriage pole as the yoke is moved forward andto release the same upon the reverse movement of the yoke bar.

2. In a device of the character described, a center plate having anopening therein to permit the passage therethrough of the earriage pole,a leather ring or disk formingl a buil'er inserted in said opening,means tor adjustably securing the plate to the yoke bar, the end of theplate below the opening being curved and having an upwardly projectinglug formed near the lower end thereof, said lug being so constructed asto engage the flange ot' the carriage pole as the yoke is moved forwardand to release the same upon the reverse movement ot the voke bar.

In a device of the cha acter described, the combination with a centralplate having` an opening to receive the pole ot the earriage, said platehaving a curved lower end provided with means tor autonnitieallvengaging' and releasing the Hange on the pole, of a plate secured to theupper end olt the central plate and to the yoke bar and having a pair oflongitudinal slots formed therein, another plate secured on the oppositeside of the central plate and passing` almost around the yoke bar, andmeans passing through openings in said plate and through the slots inthe other plate and engaged in the yoke bar for adjustably securing thetwo plates and thus the central plate to the yoke bar.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH COOPER WISE. lVitnesses JOHN CARTER, O. P. Low'ri-Ion.

